A Summer Favorite

Creole Tomatoes

Creoles are simply homegrown tomatoes from this region of south Louisiana. But their taste is so distinct, almost tangy. They are simply my favorite tomatoes. Unfortunately, they are not available all year round.

Vidalia Onions

And the onions… Wow. Again, Vidalia onions are my favorites. I’m sure Georgia has many great things there. But the two that I am most familiar with are peaches and Vidalia onions.

I remember as a child watching my maternal grandfather (Paw-Paw Charlie) routinely eat an onion like it was an apple. He would pare it with a knife as he held it in his hand, then pop that “slice” in his mouth. As a kid I just couldn’t understand it. I hated onions. Now I understand. He was eating Vidalia onions. Sweet and delicious.

This salad is as simple as simple gets. And the flavor packs a punch. It exudes “summer.”

INGREDIENTS:

2 Creole tomatoes (or other variety that you prefer)

2 cucumbers, peeled

1 Vidalia onion (or other sweet yellow onion)

1/4 to 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (to taste)

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (or more, to taste)

Salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

This is an easy one. Just chop the tomato and cucumber. Cut the Vidalia in half from top to bottom, then slice thinly each half. Add it all to a large salad bowl. Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, and salt & pepper to taste. Just don’t kill it with too much vinegar!

Variations

Try red onion if you don’t have access to Vidalia onions. Some of the small red onions can be very mild.

Also, any homegrown tomato will do.

What do you think?

Have you tried this salad? Do you like it? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

mmmm. I’m gonna try it tomorrow! so perfect for these evenings…I hate cooking in the summer months.

http://catholicfoodie.com Jeff Young

Let me know how it turns out, Maria!

http://twitter.com/reneedobbs Renee Dobbs

Look like a great salad to me especially now that it is soon time for summer tomatoes.

http://catholicfoodie.com Jeff Young

Renee, I can’t get enough of it! Is it ridiculous to make this salad every day of the week? I guess I’ll get tired of sooner or later. Hopefully later. I want to take advantage of all these deliciously fresh tomatoes!

Soniamcgarrit

reminds me of home…. growing up, we would pick the Creole tomatoes right off the vine and eat them with a sprinkling of black pepper. Love it! Can’t find good tomatoes in Denver. I think I have this salad at least once a week. Didn’t know there was a recipe for it… lol! I remember when I thought this was the only salad that existed. Thanks, Jeff for your wonderful blog.

http://catholicfoodie.com Jeff Young

Wow, Sonia! Thanks for the wonderful comment! Yes, I love Creole tomatoes! I am now praying extra hard for you. I don’t know how you make it up there… separated from Creoles and… Crawfish! Just know that I’m doing my part down here to keep our culture alive. 😉

Bon appetit!

http://sfomom.blogspot.com/ Barb S

Just made this so we can enjoy it tonight with friends. But mine contains JERSEY tomatoes! Thanks for the recipe–it’ll be perfect on this hot day.

http://catholicfoodie.com Jeff Young

Barb, I’m so happy you made it! And I’m sure those Jersey tomatoes are just as good as my Creoles. 😉 Let me know how it goes tonight!

http://sfomom.blogspot.com/ Barb S

It’s delicious, Jeff! Definitely a “keeper.”

http://catholicfoodie.com Jeff Young

I’m so glad you liked it, Barb!

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The Catholic Foodie brings much more to the table than merely recipes and reviews. The show highlights how food - good food - can be a sign of God’s love and care for each of us and our families. The tagline, "where food meets faith," speaks volumes about the importance of family, which is so often developed around the kitchen table.Read the rest...